Seventeen Magazine's Influence on Teen Body Image and Sexuality
This paper critically analyzes the content of Seventeen magazine, a popular publication targeting young women ages thirteen through eighteen. Through a review of the June and July 2007 issues, the paper examines how the magazine's emphasis on fashion, celebrity culture, physical appearance, and sexuality shapes adolescent girls' self-image and attitudes. The analysis draws on scholarly literature — including Chapin (2000), Kaplan and Cole (2003), and Hamburg (1992) — to evaluate the psychological and social effects of such media on teen development. The paper argues that unrealistic body standards, airbrushed imagery, and disproportionate focus on femininity contribute to low self-esteem, unhealthy body ideals, and inequality between young men and women.
- Overview of Seventeen Magazine Content: Survey of topics covered in reviewed issues
- Fashion, Celebrity Culture, and Unrealistic Standards: Critique of beauty ideals and celebrity influence
- Health, Sexuality, and Gender Double Standards: Examining health content and gender disparities
- Literature Review: Media's Influence on Teen Development: Scholarly evidence on media and adolescent behavior
- Conclusions and Recommendations for Editors: Recommendations for more responsible teen media
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper grounds its critique in specific textual evidence from actual magazine issues, giving the analysis concrete detail rather than relying on generalization alone.
- It effectively integrates peer-reviewed literature to validate observations made during content review, demonstrating the connection between media consumption and real-world adolescent outcomes.
- The comparison between how teen boys and teen girls are visually represented within the same magazine is a particularly sharp analytical move that strengthens the gender inequality argument.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates content analysis paired with literature synthesis: the student first performs a direct observation of primary source material (the magazine), then builds outward to secondary scholarly sources that contextualize and validate the findings. This two-step method — observe, then theorize — is a foundational technique in media studies and communications research.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a descriptive content survey of Seventeen magazine's major topics, then transitions into critical evaluation of those topics through thematic lenses: appearance standards, health messaging, gender double standards, and sexuality. The second half pivots to a formal literature review, drawing on four sources to substantiate the critique. The paper closes with normative recommendations directed at magazine editors. This structure moves logically from description to analysis to prescription.
Overview of Seventeen Magazine Content
The magazine reviewed for this research analysis is Seventeen, one of the more popular magazines for young women between the ages of thirteen and eighteen. The June issue of Seventeen featured subjects including fashion, hair and makeup, health, sex, fitness, and college and career guidance, among others.
The magazine places considerable emphasis on fashion, hair, and makeup. Even short columns addressing college preparation — such as a "College Packing List" feature — focus on fashion and the idea of "looking good" in college and in high school. The magazine offers tips for learning more about the fashion industry and encourages young women to explore what it takes to become a model, describing models as "swanky." Hollywood celebrities popular among young girls, including Vanessa Minnillo, are prominently featured, with coverage centering on their love lives, relationships, and fashion sense.
Such emphasis on fashion, appearance, and sexuality positions these qualities as central to femininity and self-worth for young women. There is comparatively little attention paid to adolescent male perspectives on fashion or sexuality. The magazine clearly targets young adolescent girls more than boys.
The subject of sex and sexuality does appear, with short articles encouraging readers to discuss sex with their parents. Readers are also directed toward strong female figures — such as Tori Amos — for inspiration when making life and career decisions. The magazine does include some material on adolescents' futures, which suggests it is not solely preoccupied with appearance and fashion.
Fashion, Celebrity Culture, and Unrealistic Standards
In its coverage of hair, skin, and makeup, the magazine frequently relies on popular young adult celebrity figures for advice and influence. This approach may have a negative impact on readers, as most Hollywood celebrities look very different from ordinary adolescents — they typically have teams of professional stylists, makeup artists, and hair specialists creating their appearance. They project an image that is nearly impossible for most teens to replicate. Women presented in the magazine as "comfortable" with their bodies are, without exception, already conventionally beautiful and thin.
The magazine does not feature women or adolescents with common skin imperfections, fuller body types, or low self-esteem. A publication featuring more realistic portrayals of adolescent life would likely be more helpful to young girls, providing a stronger sense of what ordinary teens actually experience. The lives of celebrities such as the Olsen Twins and Rihanna are far from typical when compared to those of average teenagers.
There is evidence in the scholarly literature that the constant exposure to such images — and to ongoing discussions of fashion, hair, makeup, and sex — causes young women to concern themselves excessively with their sexuality and appearance. Reading such material appears to make young women more likely to hold themselves to unhealthy standards of perfection. Adolescent boys who encounter these magazines are also likely to begin comparing their female classmates to the polished, idealized images presented within them.
The July 2007 issue, featuring Jessica Alba and America's Next Top Model, further underscores the magazine's heavy investment in idealized appearance and fashion. Its highlighted stories — including "Finding the Perfect T-Shirt and Jeans" — suggest that readers might benefit more from articles such as "How to Connect with Your Parents" or "How to Create Goals That Further Your Dreams."
References
Chapin, J. R. (2000). Adolescent sex and mass media: A developmental approach. Adolescence, 35(140), 799.
Hamburg, D. (1992). Today's children: Creating a future for a generation in crisis. Times Books.
Kaplan, E. B., & Cole, L. (2003). "I want to read stuff on boys": White, Latina, and Black girls reading Seventeen magazine and encountering adolescence. Adolescence, 38(149), 141.
Larson, R., & Kleiber, D. (1995). Secrets in the bedroom: Adolescents' private use of media. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 25(5), 535–550.
Seventeen. (June 2007). Hearst Communications, Inc.
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